Benton County ArArchives Biographies.....Burks, W. A. 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 June 16, 2009, 3:04 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

W. A. BURKS.
    The legal fraternity of Bentonville finds a leading representative in W. A.
Burks, who also has important business interests, and in both lines of activity
his efforts have been attended with a gratifying measure of success. He is a
native of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in Logan county in February, 1871.
His parents were A. L. and Sallie A. (Terry) Burks, who were also natives of the
Blue Grass state, the birth of the former having occurred in Logan county, while
the latter was born in Barren county. They were married in Kentucky, remaining
residents of the state until 1891, and the father devoted his attention to
farming, in which he was very successful. On leaving Kentucky he made his way to
Bentonville, Arkansas, and here lived retired until his demise. Mrs. Burks was a
member of the Christian church, while he was a Baptist in religious faith, and
his political allegiance was given to the democratic party. In their family were
three children: B. T., a prominent merchant of Bentonville; Lizzie. the wife of
W. T. Dudley, who is also engaged in merchandising here; and W. A., of this review.

    In the pursuit of an education Mr. Burks attended the public schools of
Kentucky and on starting out in life for himself he first took up the occupation
of farming. Later be entered upon the study of law in the office of C. M. Rice
of Bentonville, and in 1896 he was admitted to the bar, having successfully
passed the required examination. He began the practice of law in association
with Mr. Rice, with whom he continued for eight years, and then organized the
Fidelity Savings Bank & Loan Company, of which he was president for several
years. Following the liquidation of the bank he resumed the work of his
profession in connection with bonds and mortgages and the list of his clients is
now an extensive and representative one. He is local attorney for the 'Frisco &
Kansas City Southern Railway Company and he has been connected with a number of
important cases which have come before the courts of his district. He is a man
of logical mind, studious, well versed in the law and therefore highly qualified
to take care of important litigation. He is a prominent figure in business
circles of Bentonville. being president of the Monarch Investment Company, and
he is also president of the Texas Oil & Refining Company and the Blue Hawk
Refining Company, for which he likewise acts as attorney. In addition he had
made extensive investments in land in Benton county and is an astute, farsighted
business man, whose plans are carefully formulated and promptly executed.

    In 1902 Mr. Burks was united in marriage to Miss Essie Smart, a native of
Bentonville and a daughter of Dr. John Smart, who has for many years been
numbered with the leading physicians of the town. Mrs. Burks is a member of the
Presbyterian church and Mr. Burks is affiliated with the Christian church. His
political allegiance is given to the democratic party and fraternally he is
identified with the Knights of Pythias, of which he is a past chancellor
commander. His entire career has been actuated by a spirit of progress and
enterprise that has been productive of substantial results. He has constructed
his own success and in business and professional circles of Bentonville his
standing is of the highest.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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